One of Hollywood’s top talent agencies sent out a blistering company-wide memo after Variety published a not-very-favorable story about said agency.
On Wednesday, Variety (owned by Penske Media Corporation, which also owns The Hollywood Reporter) published a piece by reporter Matt Donnelly that spotlights recent high-profile client departures from United Talent Agency, such as Alex Cooper and Nikki Glaser, as well as alleged consolidation pressure within the media space and agents’ anxiety inside the company.
In response, UTA CEO David Kramer issued an email to employees, accusing Donnelly of threatening them and deliberately trying to damage the talent agency’s business. “This morning, Variety published an article with a clear bias against our business,” he wrote. “It distorts recent events, is agenda-driven and does not reflect the strength or momentum of UTA. Let me be clear: We are thriving.”
“This is a reporter that has declared in an email that UTA is a ‘flagrant and hostile enemy,’ and in a text that there would ‘be consequences both from Variety/PMC and myself’ to UTA, and stated to UTA employees his intent to damage UTA’s business. He has recently subjected women at UTA to hostile and unprofessional behavior. That does not live up to any editorial standard. We will not tolerate it,” Kramer added in the email.
